Lima , Peru -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has removed 30 of 55 generals in the national police , the largest such purge in the institution 's history .

The forced retirements , which were announced in the official gazette over the weekend , are widely seen as an attempt by Humala to combat corruption .

Among those forced out was the head of the national police .

The new head of the police , Raul Salazar , mentioned the need to fight corruption no less than six times during a speech at his induction ceremony .

`` We have to uncover any act of corruption that stains the name of the police . From the most minimal to the most important , it does n't matter , same if one sol or more are stolen , '' he said , referring to Peru 's currency .

In a separate interview on the state broadcaster Tuesday , Salazar said that fighting drug trafficking would remain a priority .

The move means that until new generals are named , many regions in Peru , including many in the interior of the country , will be led by colonels instead of generals , something that opposition politicians have criticized .

Critics also voiced concerns that the move was a ploy by Humala , as a new president , to place commanders loyal to him in the top posts .

His interior minister , Oscar Valdes , said Tuesday that the retirements had to do with a reorganization of a bloated institution , the state-run Andina news agency reported .

`` This is a studied measure , it is a re-engineering of the police , '' he said . `` It 's not possible that the police has so many generals . ''

Before the purge , the police had 55 generals , 900 colonels , and more than 2,000 commanders , he said .

Journalist Maria Elena Belaunde contributed to this report .

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The Peruvian president sacked 30 out of 55 police generals

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The new chief says corruption will not be tolerated

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The move was about reorganization , the interior minister says